Visit www.mariachimusic.com for a complete list of events or call 210-225-3353 for more information. Tickets start at $25. Purchase your tickets during the month of September and receive $5 off the ticket price. Use the promo code VARGAS for the discount price offer valid through September only. Discounts available for students, military (must show ID) and groups of 10 or more. To purchase tickets via phone call 1-800-745-3000.

Azucena is a young mariachi vocalist who was discovered at the age of 14 by the Vicente Fernandez family. She has since recorded three albums and has performed in concerts throughout Mexico, Europe, Central and South America, and the US, including several concerts in San Antonio. Her traditional performance style, phenomenal voice, and beauty resonate with audiences in both the U.S. and Mexico. Azucena is a huge advocate in promoting the Mexican cultural tradition of mariachi music on both sides of the border.

Talented student mariachi vocalists are encouraged to enter the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza Vocal Competition in San Antonio December 4. The deadline to submit an entry is Friday, October 1, 2010. To enter, students must submit a cd, dvd, or mp3 file postmarked by October 1 to the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza, One Ten Broadway, Ste. 220, San Antonio, Texas 78205.

The competition attracts the most talented student mariachi vocalists from elementary to college age and is the largest, longest running and most competitive mariachi vocal competition in the US. Past winners have gone off to appear in national televised vocal competition programs such as “La Academia” and “Tengo Talento.” Others have been awarded scholarships and had the opportunity to open for Mariachi Vargas in San Antonio and other cities.

Entries submitted by October 1 with the online application form and registration fee will be reviewed by a panel of esteemed vocalists.  Finalist will be chosen in four categories: elementary; middle school, high school and Colloge/University. Finalists selected will be posted on mariachimusic.com on November 1 and will compete at the San Antonio Municipal Auditorium on Saturday, December 4 at 9:00 am. The judges will be members of the world renowned and Mexico City based Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan who will select first, second and third place winners in each of 4 categories. One student will be selected as the ”Best Mariachi Vocalist in the US” and will open for Mariachi Vargas on December 4.

Vocal competition rules are outlined on mariachimusic.com under “conference registration form.” For additional information please call 210-225-3353.

Photograph:  2009 “Best in the US” winner Celeste Curiel, Texas State University.

Michael then went to the University of Texas at Austin School of Music for his graduate degree. While in his final year, he became the Director of the University of Texas at Austin Mariachi Paredes de Tejastitlan while serving as a grad assistant in the Ethnomusicology department. He brought UT’s Mariachi to an award-winning status in his short time at UT. In May 2010, Michael graduated with a Master of Music in trumpet performance from UT Austin. Along with being the UTSA Mariachi Director, Michael will also be the mariachi director at two Northside ISD Middle Schools, Pat Neff and Sam Rayburn. Michael is also a member of Mariachi Los Arrieros de Laredo. Congratulations to Michael for helping to shape the future of mariachi music in the U.S. in higher education.

Tickets to see Mariachi Vargas in concert on Saturday, December 4 in San Antonio go on sale September 1 through Ticketmaster.com and at all Ticketmaster outlets starting at noon. The Mariachi Vargas concert is part of the 16^th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza, the largest and longest running mariachi music festival of its kind in Texas. Nearly 15,000 mariachi musicians, vocalists and aficionados will gather November 28- December 4 for the event to include numerous mariachi music presentations, performances, competitions, workshops and more.

The event culminates with a concert featuring the Mexico City based, El mejor mariachi del mundo (the greatest mariachi in the world), Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán on December 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the San Antonio Municipal Auditorium.

Visit www.mariachimusic.com for a complete schedule of events or call 210-225-3353 for more information. Tickets start at $25. Purchase your tickets during the month of September and receive $5 off the ticket price. Use the promo code VARGAS for the discount price offer valid through September only. Discounts available for students, military (must show ID) and groups of 10 or more. To purchase tickets via phone call 1-800-745-3000.

Book your hotel stay at the St. Anthony Hotel at 1-800-996-3426 or log on to www.thestanthonyhotel.com. Special rates start at $99. Be sure to request the special rate for “Mariachi Vargas.”

The people of Ashland have opened their arms with a warm welcome to Cotulla High School’s mariachi students and Karenn Lazo who joins them from Roma, Texas. Mariachi Cotuleño has been treated as the “stars of Ashland” during their week long stay in the Rogue Valley area. It’s been quite a surprise to most locals to see mariachi musicians from South Texas in a place well known for their Shakespearean based theatrical performances. Most people have wondered how mariachi music fits in with a city known for Shakespeare. Well, the interesting thing is that it was a custom back in the Shakespeare days for a show to take place prior to a theatrical performance. This show is called “The Green Show.” So the students from Cotulla are performing in the Green Show. It makes perfect sense as the City of Ashland embraces various forms of cultural arts programs including mariachi. Many prestigious, world renowned artists have performed in the Green Show. Cotulla joins the list of prestigious artists and musicians. There are two more shows to go this Saturday and Sunday. Spread the word….it’s a must see show. Mariachi Cotuleño and Karenn Lazo were invited to perform the Green Show after winning first place in the high school mariachi group and vocal competitions in San Antonio’s Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza. For information on the 2010 Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza log on to mariachimusic.com or call 210-225-3353.

Winners of the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza have been invited to perform in various parts of the country to represent the best of mariachi music among student-based mariachi groups and vocalists.

In 2002 Roma High School’s Mariachi Santander spent a week in Atlanta, Georgia performing throughout the community in places such as the world headquarters of Coca-Cola USA. In 2006 UT Pan Am’s award-winning mariachi, and Monique Alvarado (Best Mariachi Vocalist), represented the Extravaganza in Quad Cities, Illinois during a 7-day residency program. In 2008 Zapata High School’s Mariachi Halcon traveled to Eugene, Oregon to participate in numerous community outreach activities and open for the world renowned Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan. This year Mariachi Cotuleño, first place winners in the 2009 high school group competition, will represent the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Green Show in Ashland, Oregon. The Cotulla High School Mariachi Group will perform 4 shows during their weeklong visit to the Rogue Valley area. Karenn Lazo from Roma High School will join Cotulla in Ashland as first place winner of the mariachi vocal competition (High School Category). Twenty-seven students and directors will have the opportunity to showcase their talents in Southern Oregon and represent the best of mariachi music in the U.S. among high school students. Students will perform their award-winning competition pieces along with some all-time favorites such as Los Laureles, La Negra and Guadalajara. The experience is sure to be one that will have a lifetime impact on these South Texas students. Thanks to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival organizers, the entire community of Cotulla, Texas and Elio Ramirez, Cotulla’s Mariachi Director, for your work in making this all possible!!!

The 2010 Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza will be held in San Antonio, Texas November 28 - December 5. Tickets go on sale September 1. The vocal competition deadline is October 1. For information on the Oregon Shakespeare Festival log on to www.osfashland.org

A slew of celebrities will partake in the event including American Idol’s David Archuleta, director Robert Rodriguez and San Antonio’s very own Campanas de America. The event is produced by my good friend David Chavez of Latinpointe who has also produced the ALMA Awards and Univison Networks’ Premios Deportes. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Sponsors include the Texas Talent Musicians Association, the Tejano Academy of Artists and Musicians, AARP, Best Buy, Epiphone, Sol Casinos, the Recording Academy and Janie’s Record Shop.